The success of the Connecticut women's basketball program was kick-started with the evolution of its great rivalry with the championship teams from Tennessee.

Since the arrival of Stefanie Dolson four years ago, that focus has shifted to facing Notre Dame. The two schools met 12 times over her first three seasons, and their only meeting in 2013-14 will be the most heralded as two undefeated teams play for the NCAA Division I championship for the first time on Tuesday night.

"Historically, it's pretty cool,'' Dolson said at Monday's press conference in Nashville, Tenn. "It's not something that happens all the time, having two undefeated teams play each other in the national championship game.''

Though unavoidable, Dolson would prefer playing down the battle of unbeatens.

"For us, we're not really thinking about that,'' she said. "You can't focus on all that stuff, all the hype that's around the game. We know it's going to be a tough game with Notre Dame. It always is. We have to focus on ourselves and make sure our game plan is on point for the game on Tuesday.''

Connecticut has reached the Final Four in all four seasons the Minisink Valley graduate Dolson has been on the team — the Huskies lost the national semifinals in 2011 and 2012, and beat Louisville for the 2013 title, after knocking off Notre Dame in the semifinals.

"We always know when we play Notre Dame it's going to be a good game,'' Dolson said. "They're a tough team. We're a tough team. ... We're definitely looking forward to playing the best in order to win, obviously. It's going to be a fun game tomorrow. I think we're all looking forward to it. I'm sure they are, too.''

Much like how Duke men's basketball elicits strong support or scorn for its success, the Huskies draw the same visceral reaction from fans.

"It was something that Bria (Hartley) and I stepped into when we were freshmen coming off as they had just won" in 2010, Dolson said. "So when we initially came here to Connecticut, we already had a target on our backs. It's something that coach (Geno Auriemma) has done, definitely embraced. It's something you get used to.

"We know every game we play the other team is going to give us their best game and knock down shots they don't usually make. We're always prepared for that. We're always expecting it. And it's something that you get used to and you definitely embrace because you just have to go out on the court with that confidence that we know no one wants to see us win, so we're going to win anyway.''